Henry Adams, M.S.

About

Henry (he/they) is a wildlife ecologist, educator, and illustrator originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Under the tutelage of Sonia Hernandez, Ph.D, at the University of Georgia, Henry cemented a fascination with and appreciation for wildlife disease ecology and the intersections of wildlife, ecosystems, and human health, also known as the One Health concept.

In their career, Henry has investigated the health impacts of urbanization on white ibis (Eudocimus albus) in South Florida and studied amphibian pathogens in Costa Rican salamanders. Additionally, they have cultivated a passion for conservation education and art. As a lifelong and self-taught illustrator, Henry has frequently incorporated art into their education work, believing that both the creation and appreciation of nature-inspired artwork brings an audience emotionally closer to conservation issues.

Henry now serves as the Wildlife Management Coordinator at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute. He is particularly excited to create impactful educational opportunities for learners across the city and to further conservation efforts for the black-crowned night herons (endangered in Illinois) that nest at the zoo. His work is inspired by a drive to better understand how wildlife utilizes the Chicagoland urban landscape. He also hopes to contribute to equitable, community-driven wildlife conservation, so as to better serve historically excluded communities and the greater Chicago ecosystem.